Geranium plant named ‘Tosfanshlu’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant named ‘Tosfanshlu’, characterized by its semi-double type, medium purple-violet colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, upright-mounded growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Pelargonium x hortorum.

Variety denomination: ‘Tosfanshlu’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant botanically known as Pelargonium x hortorum and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Tosfanshlu’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht, The Netherlands during July 2015. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Geranium cultivars that flower uniformly and have large flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and a moderately vigorous, upright-mounded growth habit.

The new Geranium cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is proprietary Pelargonium x hortorum breeding selection coded TB0440, not patented, characterized by its semi-double type, medium purple-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, upright growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is Moonlight Lavender also sold as Moonlight Violino ‘KLEPZ11229’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,133, characterized by its semi-double type, medium lavender-blue colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, moderately vigorous, upright growth habit. The new cultivar was selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during August 2016 in a controlled environment in Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since August 2016 in Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht, the Netherlands and Arroyo Grande, Calif. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Tosfanshlu’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant:

-   -   1. Semi-double type, medium purple-violet colored flowers;     -   2. Dark green-colored foliage; and     -   3. Moderately vigorous, upright-mounded growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in having more branches per plant and wider petals. Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the male parent primarily in having purple-violet colored flowers, more flowers per umbel, and slightly increased growth vigor.

Of the many commercially available Geranium cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is FANTASIA Violet ‘Balfanimvio’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,556. However, in side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Balfanimvio’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have a flower color that has more         purple coloration than flowers of plants of ‘Balfanimvio’; and     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have a darker green leaf color         than plants of ‘Balfanimvio’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Tosfanshlu’. The approximately 12-week-old plants were grown in 4-inch pots approximately 6 weeks in a greenhouse in West Chicago, Ill. Plants were given one pinch three weeks prior to transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Tosfanshlu’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual umbel of ‘Tosfanshlu’.

FIG. 3 illustrates a close-up view of an individual leaf of ‘Tosfanshlu’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in December 2020 under natural light conditions in Naperville, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe approximately 12-week-old plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown in West Chicago, Ill. in 4-inch pots for approximately 6 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Plants were given one pinch three weeks prior to transplant. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 70° F. to 75° F. (21° C. to 24° C.) during the day and approximately 68° F. to 74° F. (20° C. to 23° C.) during the night. Supplemental lighting was used. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium x hortorum ‘Tosfanshlu’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Pelargonium x hortorum breeding             selection coded TB0440, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Moonlight Lavender also sold as Moonlight             Violino ‘KLEPZ11229’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,133. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 9 to 12 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 21 to 28             days.         -   Root description.—Fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 8 to 9 weeks from a             rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous,             upright-mounded.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 20.0 cm. Height from soil level to top of             foliage: Approximately 14.0 cm. Width: Approximately 24.0             cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely basal branching, pinching enhances             basal branching. Quantity of main branches per plant:             Approximately 2.         -   Branch.—Strength: Strong. Length: Approximately 10.0 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 8.0 mm. Length of central internode:             Approximately 1.0 cm. Texture: Densely pubescent with a             mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland color:             Colorless, transparent. Color of young and mature stems:             146B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per branch:             Approximately 14 Fragrance: Slight. Form: Simple.             Arrangement: Opposite.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: Petiole is at an acute angle to stem, blade             is perpendicular to stem. Shape: Reniform. Margin:             Bicrenate, palmately lobed, somewhat wavy. Apex: Obtuse.             Base: Cordate. Venation pattern: Palmate. Length of mature             leaf: Approximately 8.0 cm. Width of mature leaf:             Approximately 9.0 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:             Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and             nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Colorless, transparent.             Color of upper surface of young foliage: Closest to 137B             venation of 146B. Color of lower surface of young foliage:             Closest to 147C with venation of 146C. Color of upper             surface of mature foliage: Closest to NN137A with 139A             venation of 146A, no zonation observed. Color of lower             surface of mature foliage: Closest to 147B with venation of             146C.         -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 5.5 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent with a             mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland color:             Colorless, transparent. Color: 146B. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Tosfanshlu’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous             blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in             greenhouse environment.         -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately             12 to 14 days. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Umbel, semi-spherical. Positioned             above foliage. Quantity of fully open umbels per plant:             Approximately 1. Quantity of developing umbels per plant:             Approximately: 1. Fragrance: Slight. Length or height:             Approximately 6.5 cm. Width: Approximately 9.5 cm. Quantity             of fully open flowers per inflorescence: Approximately 15.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect. Length:             Approximately 12.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 4.0 mm.             Texture: Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and             nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Colorless, transparent.             Color: 146A to 146B with an overlay of 187A. -   Flower description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Semi-double.         -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 3 to 4 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Elliptic. Length:             Approximately 1.3 cm. Width: Approximately 9.0 mm. Sepal             texture: Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and             nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Colorless, transparent.             Petal texture: Glabrous. Petal color: N78B.         -   Corolla.—Shape: Round. Diameter: Approximately 5.0 cm.             Depth: Approximately 1.5 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity: Approximately 6 to 8 petals. Shape:             Obovate. Appearance: Matte. Margin: Entire. Apex: Obtuse to             slightly notched. Base: Attenuate. Length of upper petals:             Approximately 2.9 cm. Width of upper petals: Approximately             1.9 cm. Length of lower petals: Approximately 2.5 cm. Width             of lower petals: Approximately 2.1 cm to 2.3 cm. Texture of             upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color of upper surface             of upper petals when fully open: N78B with N80B and NN155A             with venation of N78A at base. Color of lower surface of             upper petals when fully open: N78D with venation of 67A at             base. Color of upper surface of lower petals when fully             open: N78B with N80B. Color of lower surface of lower petals             when fully open: N78D.         -   Calyx.—Shape: 5-pointed star. Diameter: Approximately 2.2             cm.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Approximately 5, fused at base.             Shape: Lanceolate. Margin: Entire. Apex: Acuminate. Length             of upper sepal: Approximately 1.2 cm. Width of upper sepal:             Approximately 5.0 mm. Length of lower sepals: Approximately             1.0 cm. Width of lower sepals: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture             of upper surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower surface:             Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and             nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Colorless, transparent.             Color of upper surface: 146B with a faint overlay of 185B at             base. Color of lower surface: 146A with an overlay of 185A             at base.         -   Pedicel.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Acute angle to peduncle.             Length: Approximately 3.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately             2.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent with a mixture of             glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Colorless,             transparent. Color: 146B with a heavy overlay of 185A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Quantity of mature stamens:             Approximately 10 per flower. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther             length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Anther color: Closest to N78B.             Filament length: Approximately 8.0 mm. Filament color:             NN155D tinted with N78A nearest anther. Pollen amount:             Moderate. Pollen color: 32C. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1             per flower. Pistil length: Approximately 1.0 cm. Stigma             shape: 5 branched. Stigma length: Approximately 2.0 mm.             Stigma color: 185A. Style length: Approximately 3.0 mm.             Style color: Closest to 185B. Ovary length: Approximately             5.0 mm. Ovary texture: Densely pubescent. Ovary color: 145A. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens     and pests common to Geranium has not been observed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant named ‘Tosfanshlu’, substantially as herein illustrated and described. 